Oktoberfest 2013: 12 German Phrases Every Traveller Should Learn

The Huffington Post Canada
|
By Brian Vinh Tien Trinh

Posted:
09/20/2013 2:00 pm EDT
Updated:
09/20/2013 2:50 pm EDT

Oktoberfest 2013 is just around the corner and for every well-seasoned, beer sipping, bratwurst munching, festival veteran, there's bound to be a few new comers to one of Germany's largest fall festivals (Getty). | Getty

Oktoberfest 2013 is just around the corner and for every well-seasoned, beer-sipping, bratwurst-munching festival veteran, there's bound to be a few newcomers to one of Germany's largest fall festivals.

If you're in Munich, you won't be able to miss it thanks to the dozen or so beer tents set up in the Theresienwiese, a meadow near the centre of the city. But come expecting plenty of company.

The celebration is regarded as one of the largest food festivals and for good reason — the Winzerer Fähndl alone, the largest tent, can accommodate nearly 11,000 visitors. Factor in the other 30 or so tents and you've got yourself plenty of opportunities to make some pen pals. While it's not necessary to be fluent in German to attend the festival, a little effort goes a long way whenever you're in a foreign country.

Now, German isn't the easiest language to pick up, but some key terms the Daily Telegraph suggests to watch out for are "aufmandeln" which means to get angry, usually over the fact that it's tough to find a seat; "Aufstöin" which translates to donating a beer and "prost!" which travellers can expect to hear a lot because it means "cheers!"

While that's just scratching the surface, Huffington Post Canada Travel did some digging and with the help of Babbel.com, a language learning system, compiled a list of German phrases that travellers might want to put in their back pocket for the next 16 days.

So, brush up on your German and "prost" to another Oktoberfest!

12 Oktoberfest Phrases You'll Want To Know

1

Wo sind die Bierzelte?

Getty

Translation: Where are the beer tents?

2

Ist dieser Tisch frei?

Getty

Translation: Is this seat taken?

3

Wissen Sie, wo ich noch einen freien Platz finde?

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Translation: Do you know where I can find any free seats?

4

Das Essen schmeckt sehr gut. Was genau esse ich hier noch mal?

The Associated Press

Translations: The food here is delicious. What am I eating again?

5

Mehr Bier, Bitte!

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Translation: More beer, please!

6

Ist das ein Liter?

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Translation: Is that a litre?

7

Wo finde ich die Toiletten?

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Translation: Where can I find the toilet?

8

Pass auf, dass uns niemand den Tisch weg nimmt

The Associated Press

Translation: Make sure no one steals this table.
Not urgent enough? Try: "Verteidige diesen Tisch mit deinem Leben" for "Guard this table with your life!"

9

Reichst du mir bitte die Brezeln?

Getty

Translation: Can you pass the preztles?

10

Ohje. Bitte keinen Alkohol mehr.

Getty

Translation: Oh God. Please, mo more alcohol.

11

Wo kann ich mich übergeben?

Getty

Translation: Where can I puke?

12

Lass uns das nächstes Jahr wiederholen.

The Associated Press

Translation: Let's do this again next year.

Earlier on HuffPost:

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Bavarian riflemen in their traditional costumes stand in front of the 'Bavaria' statue in Munich, southern Germany, on Monday, Oct. 3, 2011. Members of various shooting clubs of the region met for a salute on the last day of the famous Oktoberfest beer festival. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Bavarian riflemen and women in traditional costumes fire their muzzle loaders in Munich, southern Germany, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. Members of various shooting clubs of the region met for a salute on the last day of the famous Oktoberfest beer festival. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Young women try to cover from heavy rain at the last day of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival in Munich, southern Germany, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. The world's largest beer festival, running from Sept. 22 to Oct. 7, 2012 was expected to see some million visitors. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

An empty beer mug stands on a table at the last day of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival during heavy rain in Munich, southern Germany, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012. Munich's famed celebration of beer, the Oktoberfest, is drawing to a close after some 6.4 million visitors downed an estimated 6.9 million liter mugs of Bavarian brew  some 14.6 million pints. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Visitors during the last day of the famous Bavarian "Oktoberfest" beer festival during heavy rain in Munich. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)